[Use of EEA stapler in colorectal surgery (author's transl)]

From March 1979 to January 1980, the EEA stapler was used in the construction of 46 anastomoses after left colonic and anterior rectal resections. The mortality was 0 and the morbidity minimal. The safety of the sutures was excellent. The operative procedure was greatly facilitated, mainly in the cases of low rectal anastomoses. The functional results were good. In the surgical treatment of the rectal carcinomas, the use of the EEA allowed larger margins of resection, and increased the rate of conservative operations [Acta chir. belg., 1981, 80, 11-15].